There have been several wrestling megastars, but none of them compare to what John Cena did in his 23-year run in WWE.
Did you really see John Cena?
Yes, we all know we’ve spent his entire career “looking” for him. The man behind “You Can’t See Me” got taken too literally to the point of invisibility. But maybe there is a deeper meaning to it.
What exactly were you looking for? A hero? A villain? A reason to smile? A reason to boo?
For 23 years, WWE fans searched endlessly, wondering if they’d ever find the answer. But as he enters the final match of his storied career, it’s all clear. Finally, we do see Cena.
What do we see? That John Cena has cemented himself as the greatest wrestler in history – and there will never be another like him.
Turns out, it’s just basic thuganomics.
There have been several people that shaped wrestling and have been considered the wrestling GOAT. Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, just to name some that are commonly placed on a wrestling Mount Rushmore.
Cena entered WWE after all of the aforementioned stars helped make it a well-oiled machine. If he never decided to get in the ring, the business would probably be doing just fine.
Yet, Cena took it to new heights. He had a rocket strapped to his back and was told to shoot for the moon. He defied it and rode all the way to the sun. He was no Icarus, burning when he flew too close. Instead, he brought the intensity up, and that big ball of fire shined brighter than it ever did.
Anyone that watches the business knows Cena isn’t the greatest technical wrestler – far from it. If you think that disqualifies him from being wrestling’s top star, you’re like a broken needle; you’re missing the point.
Cena didn’t need to be the best technical wrestler because he knew what wrestling really is. At its core, it's sports entertainment. It’s supposed to make you feel something, and that was something Cena was able to do each time “The Time Is Now” played through arenas and stadiums.
'Let's Go Cena.' 'Cena sucks.'
Whether you loved him or hated him, you knew Cena was excelling at his craft. Being placed at the top of the company for so long made him vulnerable to failure. Rather than crumbling, he embraced all reactions and knew how to turn it into gold and carry a long career that made sense.
For not being the greatest literal wrestler, Cena had his fair share of five-star matches. He never stopped trying to improve. But he always was a moment maker, evident in the countless memories he produced that have wrestling fans remembering exactly where they were when they saw Cena shine.
Like all wrestling greats, Cena transcended the ring. He became a household name and 21st century cultural icon. Look at anyone and repeatedly wave your hand in front of your face and you know what it means – because of Cena.
He crossed over to Hollywood and is having a successful career on the screen, easier said than done.
But most of all, what separates Cena from every wrestler is who he is. John Cena isn’t some on-screen hero. Cena is a real-life hero.
His charity work is second-to-none, setting the world record for the most wishes granted through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He consistently encouraged people through hustle, loyalty and respect, resonating with so many families across the country that needed a source of inspiration.
He does the same for the next generation of wrestling. He wants to give back to the profession that did so much for him. Cena wants to put younger talent over and do what’s best for the future, even if it makes him look bad. He’s as honest as it can get.
It’s refreshing to see a megastar not force themselves into always being the main attraction, and making everyone suffer as a result. Even better, he hasn’t turned his career upside down by becoming some polarizing, controversial figure that’s consistently in scandals – not something every great wrestler can say.
That’s what made this farewell tour of 2025 so hard. It hasn’t been managed well, not much fault of Cena's, because so many people that grew up cheering or booing him understand what Cena means to wrestling.
Even when WWE tried to make him a heel – the time to really boo him – fans couldn’t help themselves from cheering him on. Yet it made it even more rewarding at SummerSlam 2025 when we got the Cena we all knew and loved back, so he could be properly sent off.
Saturday Night’s Main Event is going to be as emotional of a night as it gets. It’s going to mark the end of a legendary run. It will be the last time the ring is graced by someone’s hero, the man people grew up with, the man that got people through hardships with just a simple message.
You’re not just saying goodbye to a wrestler. You’re saying goodbye to someone that evoked emotion unlike anyone before, and did it with grace every step of the way. That’s what makes this chaotic, often ugly profession a beautiful form of art.
So, when his entrance music plays and he does that signature run down the ramp before he lets the entire world know you still can’t see him, make sure you defy his proclamation and take one more chance to actually see Cena.
Because the time is now to recognize there will never be another John Cena – the greatest to ever do it.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Cena leaves wrestling the greatest of all time
Category: General Sports
